Fire-escape.



l J. A. WEAVER.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1912.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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J. A. WEAVER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1912 1,975,]. 76. Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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JAMES A. WEAVER, 01 MILES CITY, MONTANA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Application filed July 16, 1912. Serial No. 709,733.

To all "whom/2'15 may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. lVn vnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miles City, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to fire escapes, and more particularly to the class of movable or portable fire escapes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape wherein a flexible ladder is suspended from a carriage adapted to travel upon a track located near the roof of a building so that the ladder may be shifted at any point exteriorly of the build ing in convenient position, so as to be readily accessible from any of the windows therein to permit the escape with safety of any of the occupants of the building during conflagration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape wherein the ladder suspended exteriorly of a building may be manipulated either from the ground or by a person when standing thereon, thus assuring safety to the user when descending the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape wherein a movable carriage supporting the ladder is prevented from jumping its track so as to avoid the possibility of accident during use thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape wherein an endless conveyor is arranged so as to permit the raising or lowering of articles exteriorly of the building, the speed of travel of the conveyor being controlled through suitable brake mechanism manually operated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a ladder structure which can be used for painting side walls of a building, washing windows, painting signs, raising or lowering of articles, and placing awnings over windows.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape which is simple in construction, reliable and efiicient in its operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation ofa building showing the fire escape constructed in accordance with the invention mounted exteriorly thereof, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. t is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing 2 modified form of fire escape. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4:- Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional, view through the track.

Similar reference characters indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals,s--.

10 designates a portion of the front wall of a building having the usual windows 11, and mounted in any suitable manner near the edge of the said front wall adjacent to the roof of the buildin are brackets 12, the latter being disposed at intervals andi carry a guide track 13 which extends entirely across the front wall and is disposed horizontally thereof for supporting and permitting the travel thereon of a carriage presently described.

The carriage comprises spaced vertically disposed hangers 14 in the upper loop ends 15 of which are journaled rotatable wheels or rollers 16, the same being provided with outer peripheral grooves 17 engaging the track 13 so that the wheels or rollers 16 will freely travel upon the said track 13 without running off of the same, the hangers 1 1 being connected by means of a cross bar or tie beam 18 and terminate at their lower ends in bearings 19 receiving a spindle or axle 20, on which are loosely swung the uppermost links 21 of a flexible ladder 92 which is suspended therefrom, and has its lower end terminating close to the ground surface or foundation of the building.

Fixed to the hangers 1 1 at their inner sides are ears 23 which engage the lower edge of the track 13 and serve to prevent the jumping of the wheels or rollers 16 therefrom when traveling over the same. Keyed or otherwise fixed medially is a pulley wheel 24 over which is trained an endless cable 25 which extends to the lower end of the ladder 22 and serves as a conveyer for the raising or car 33, diametrically opposite the ear or lug 29 and formed on the said sleeve 30 of the lever 31 so that on the rocking of the latter in one direction the band 27 will be A tightened about the brake drum 26 for regu lating the speed of rotation of the pulley wheel 24 or causing the same to be brought to a stand-still, While on the movement of the lever in the reverse direction the brake band 27 will become slack and loosened about the brake drum 26 thereby permitting free rotation of the pulley wheel 24, the lever 31 being pivoted at 34 to a bracket 35 fixed to a cross bar 36 carried by the hangers 14 of the V carriage.

Connected with the outer end of the rocking lever 31 is a pull cable 36 which extends downwardly in close proximity to the foundation or ground surface so as to be manipur. a lated by the operator when standing thereon.

However, the cable 36 may be pulled upon while a person is standing upon the ladder 22 for controlling the travel of the conveyer 25 trained from the pulley wheel 24 as will be readily apparent.

Fixed to the journal ofthe wheels or rollers 16 or to the same are guide pulleys 37 over which is trained an endless cable 38 which when pulled upon will rotate the wheels or rollers 16 thereby causing the carriage to move about from one point to another on the track 13 supporting the same, the endless cable 38 being of sufiicient length so as to extend'to the lower end of the ladder 22, whereby a person or user of the ladder may readily and easily manipulate the said cable 38 for driving the carriage supported upon the tracks.

In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive there is shown a modification of fire escape wherein the horizontal track 39 is fixed to brackets 40 secured to the front wall 41 of a building near the roof edge thereof, and upon this track is adapted to travel a carriage presently described. The carriage comprises a centrally arched beam from which depend near opposite ends thereof pairs of spaced bearings 43 in which is journaled a driving shaft 44 having loosely journaled centrally thereon independent pulley wheels 45 and 46 respectively, the same being spaced apart by means of the hub 47 formed on the pulley wheel 45, and each of said pulley wheels is formed on its outer side with an annular friction clutch flange 47 engageable by a friction clutch head 48 splined or keyed at 49 on the shaft 44 for sliding movement, the clutch head 38 being normally out of contact with the clutch flange 47, and is held in such position by means of a coiled expansion spring 50, interposed between the said wheel and head and surrounds the shaft 44, the clutch being thrown into engagement with the flange 47 in a manner presently described. Integral with and depending from the arch beam 42 is a substantially U-shaped frame 51 to which are connected inner and outer eye members 52, the same having fastened thereto the suspended cable 53 of a flexible ladder 54, the same being of a length to extend into close proximity to the ground or foundation supporting the building whereby a person may descend the same on to the ground or may ascend the ladder from the ground. Stationarily mounted in the arch bar 42 near opposite ends thereof are vertical sleeves 55 on which are swingingly connected hub-like portions 56 of hook-shaped hangers 57 in which are journaled wheels or rollers 58 formed with outer peripheral grooves 59 engaging the track 39, the rollers 58 being supported upon stud axles 60 journaled in the hangers 57, the inner ends of the stud axles 60 being provided with beveled gears 61 meshing with similar beveled gears 62 fixed to the upper ends of driven shafts 63 journaled in the stationary sleeves 55, the lower ends of the shafts 63 being provided with beveled gears 64 meshing with similar beveled gears 65 fixed to the driving shaft 44, so that upon rotation of the latter 3 similar movement will be imparted to the axle 60 for rotating the wheels or rollers 58 thereby causing the carriage to travel upon the track 39 for shifting the ladder 54 from same will be continuous throughout'all'of the walls of the building.

The hangers by reason of their loose connection with the sleeves 55 will permit the turning of the wheels or rollers 58 so as to prevent the jumping thereof from the track when taking the curves therein. Loosely connected to the upper ends of the shaft 63 are the collar terminals 66 of a brace bar 67 which prevents the displacement of the said shafts resultant from strains or excessive loads upon the ladder. Integral with and depending from the arch bar 42 at the ends thereof are bearings 68 which loosely receive the outer threaded ends 69 of adjusting rods 70, the same being journaled in the bearings 43 and have fixed to their inner ends forks 71 loosely engaging the clutch head 48 whereby the same may be moved into engagement with or disengagement from the clutch flanges 47 on the pulleys 45 and 46. On the threaded end 69 of the rod 70 are engaged pulley wheels 72 whereby on the rotation thereof the rod 70 will be adjusted for actuating the clutch heads as hereinbefore described, and trained over the pulley wheel 72 are endless chains 73 which extend the full length of the ladder 5e and likewise trained over the pulley to and 46 are endless chains 74 and 75 respectively, the chain 74 being designed as a conveyer chain for the raising and lowering of articles from the ground to a predetermined elevation, or vice versa while the chain 75 which passes over the pulley 46 when actuated will cause the ladder to be shifted to the desired point when the clutch head as is engaged with the flange 47 integrally formed with the pulley e6. Also it is to be understood that the chain 74 when actuated by a person either standing upon the ladder or on the ground will cause the shifting of the ladder should the clutch head i8 engage with the flange 47 on the pulley 45, the clutch heads a8 being engaged with and disengaged from the flanges l? on both pulleys a5 and 46 in a manner as heretofore described. The chains 73, T l and 75 can be readily manipulated by a person when standing upon the ladder or upon the ground by pulling upon the inner and outer stretches of each chain as will be clearly apparent. When either the pulley L5 or the pulley i6 is fixed to the shaft a l when engaged by the clutch head 4C8 and the said pulley is rotated similar movement will be imparted to the shaft 63, and by reason of their connection with the trolley wheel 58 the latter will be rotated for shifting the ladder to any desired point of the track 39. Formed on the arch bar a2 and projecting rearwardly therefrom are extensions 76 supporting friction rollers 77 which are suitably journaled thereon and engage the sides and bottom surfaces of the track 39, so as to prevent the jumping of the carriage from the track during the travel of the same thereover.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be clearly understood, and therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

WVhat is claimed is 1. The combination with a track adapted to be mounted in horizontal relation to and upon the wall of a building at a point elevated from the ground, of a pair of spaced hangers, track wheels journaled in the hangers and movable upon the track, a yoke connected wit-h the hangers whereby the latter are free to rotate, bearings integral with the yoke, a shaft journaled in one pair of the bearings, driven connections between the said shaft and the track wheels and journaled in the other bearings, loose pulleys supported by the shaft, clutch heads loosely keyed to the shaft for longitudinal. movement thereon and engageable with the pulleys, means for moving the clutch be? ds into and out of engagement with the said pulleys, a ladder suspended from the yoke, and endless flexible members for operating the last-named means and extended the entire length of the ladder.

2. The combination with a track adapted to be mounted in horizontal relation to and upon the wall of a building at a point elevated from the ground, of a pair of spaced hangers, track wheels journaled in the hangers and movable upon the track, a yoke connected with the hangers whereby the latter are free to rotate, bearings integral with the yoke, a shaft journaled in one pair of the bearings, driven connections between the said shaft and the track wheels and journaled in the other bearings, loose pulleys supported by the shaft, clutch heads loosely keyed to the shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and engageable with the pulleys, means for moving the clutch heads into and out of engagement with the said pulleys, a ladder suspended from the yoke, endless flexible members for operating the lastnamed means and extended the entire length of the ladder, and means for rotating the pulleys when engaged with or disengaged from the clutch heads.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. WEAVER.

\Vitnesses:

E. F. HEOKMAN, W. J. DUNNIGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

